Remco Evenepoel and the helicopter of discord at the end of the 7th stage: the UCI condemns a “lack of fairness”

The 7th stage offered more turbulence after the finish line than in its last kilometers. The organization of the Giro had all the trouble in the world to bring the peloton down from the Gran Sasso, place of arrival on Friday. Some formations, Remco Evenepoel’s Soudal – Quick-Step in the lead, benefited from helicopter transfers, provided by the organizers, to cover the 26 kilometers which separated the summit from the foot of this ascent. Others had to make do with the means at hand, using the resort’s cable cars in the middle of the public. And this situation did not please the International Cycling Union at all.

The UCI published a press release this Saturday to express its disagreement with a “total lack of sporting fairness“.”The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has noted that at the end of the 7th stage of the Giro d’Italia, between Capua and Gran Sasso d’Italia, some riders used a helicopter to evacuate the finish area at the end of the step. This advantage represents a total lack of sporting fairness and contravenes the regulatory provisions aimed at offering equal treatment in the transfer of teams to their hotels.“

Sanctions to come assures the UCI

For the privileged, this transport boost (for a fee) could represent a real advantage in recovery time. But it marks a little more the differences in means between the different formations. The controversy was quick to swell for the followers as well as within the peloton. “It’s unthinkable for us“was moved the Intermarché Circus Wanty team, who joined their bus by car.

The images of certain runners, their bikes on their shoulders and piled up in eggs with supporters or even journalists have given rise to both smiles and annoyance. They could also ask health questions, while the specter of the Covid is still present and pushed the Italian Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) not to start on Saturday.

The UCI also deplores a departure from the efforts made to limit the environmental footprint of cycling races, in particular the Grand Tours such as the Giro. “The use of a helicopter for a few riders also contravenes the principle of minimizing the carbon footprint recalled in the specifications of the organizers of the UCI WorldTour“, added the authority. This one assured to want to take”the measures and possible sanctions necessary so that such acts cannot happen again in the future“.